Transparent



S. B. SHEARER.

TRANSPARENT BANK.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20. 1915.

1,320,421. Patented Nov. 4, 1919.

" citizen of the United States, and a residentof- SAMUEL SHEARER, F CHAMBERSBURG,PENNSYLVANIA.

V TRANSPARENT BANK.

I To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that'I, SAMUEL B. SI-inARER, a

Chambersburg, in the county of Franklin and State of Pennsylvanla, have invented a new and useful Improvement inTransparent Banks, of which the following is a speci- 2o hank embodying an elongated main body fication.

My present invention relates to banks, and more particularly to that class which is portable, such as banks for children, charitable organizations, societies, churches, etc.

The principal Objects of my invention are to provide abank, the body of .which is transparent, so that its contents is visible from the exterior; to provide such a bank, the major portion of which is made of glass, and so formed that it will not'becomebroken or chipped when subjected to ordinary shocks and rough handling; to provide a portionformed of glass, and embodying ribs integral therewith, which have a dual function of strengthening the body longitudinally and preventing the removal of coins should the body be vibrated in such efforts;

to provide other ribs having a dual function of strengthening the body and spacing a suitable metallic lock for the lower portion of the banks, so that it will not mar polished surfaces on which the bank may be placed;

and, to provide a bail or handle for the main body portion of the bank having connection with the same .at enlargements or ribs formed on the end portions, which also strengthen the body of the bank.

Other objects of the invention will appear inthe following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and in which drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bank constructed according to my invention.

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal vertical sectional view through the bank.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, looking in the directionof the arrow.

. Fig. 4 isa perspective view of a removable bottom, embodying a lock, for the main body ortion.

In the drawings, where similar characters refer to similar parts throughout the views, A designates a main body portion comprisa top B, bottom frame G and ends D; E a suitable handle or bail; and F, a removable Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 20,

Patented Nov. t, 1919. 1916. Serial No. 85,332.

1bottom embodying a lock G of any suitable Referring first to themain body portion A, constructed of transparent glass, it is preferably formed to simulate an ordinary satchel, so that no sharp corners are in evidence, thus, in a way, preventing the bank from being broken, or chipped, should it be subjected to the ordinary shocks incidental to rough handling. The elongated body is provided with an elongated coin slot 5, extending longitudinally of the top B, preferably midway of the ends D. In order to prevent the removal of coins from the bank through slot 5, once they have been placed therein, ribs 6 are provided, formed integral with and internally of body A, at both sides of the coin slot, said ribs extending the entire length of the body, and preferably joined together'at the ends of the slot, as indicated at 7. These ribs 6 not only serve the function above mentioned but also strengthen the bank longitudinally. In the side wall of the body an opening 8 of'a size,

suitable tol-receive bills which have been folded or rolled, may be provided.

Referring now to the bottom frame C; it is formed about a rectangular elongated opening 9, into which extends flanges 10, formed integral with body A, longitudinally of the opening. It is to be observed that the interior surface of the walls of body A are curved toward the opening 9, facilitating removal of coins, inasmuch as they have a tendency to slide on the curved surfaces 11.

of the side walls, and on the curved surfaces 12 of the end walls, toward the opening 9. This interior surface is also curved toward the ribs 6 so that, upon inverting the bank, the edges of the coins slide over the surfaces 13 and become lodged, at the base of ribs 6. At the bottom of body A a rib 14 is provided at its exterior portion about the opening 9, which continuous rib 14, extending the entire length of the bottom of body A, strengthens the body, and elevates the opening 9 from any surface on which the bank may be placed.

Removable bottom F is of a size to fit in opening 9, and engage the flanges 10, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, this bottom being preferably of metal and provided with a stem 15, at one end, to engage the interior of the bottom of body A, at one end of opening 9, and includes a suitable lock G, having a bolt 16, which may be thrown to engage the bottom of body A, at its interior portion, opposite to stem 15. When the bottom is assembled into operative relation to body A, the keyway enlargement 17 is lowermost, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, and the rib 1 1, in addition to strengthening the body spaces said enlargement 17 from the surface on which the bank rests, preventing this metallic portion from mar-ring any polished surface.

Referring now to the bail or handle IE, it is preferably made of wire, flattened as at 18, if desired, the end portions 19 being inturned. It is to be observed that the sides of body A incline upwardly, and in order to provide a suitable support for the bail or handle E, upright ribs 20 are formed integral with the sides, each rib being provided with a recess 21 for the reception of inturned portion 19.

The bank is well adapted to stimulate a desire to save, and to accumulate the coins or bills within the bank, they being clearly visible from the exterior. It is to be observed that, in the embodiment of a main body portion constructed of glass care must be taken to provide a substantial structure and to which end, the ribs 6 and 14 are provided, having the dual function mentioned. When a coin is dropped through slot 5, it falls upon the metallic removable bottom F, and should any attempt be made to remove the coins, as by shaking the body when in an inverted position, the coins will assemble in the valley formed by either rib 6 and the adjacent wall portion 13.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention; but,

I claim:

1. In a bank, the combination of a glass body having a coin slot therein, and an opening in the wall opposite the coin slot, flanges formed on the body and overhanging the side edges of said opening, a metallic closure plate fitted in said opening against said flanges whereby coin deposited through said slot will fall upon said metal plate, the inner surfaces of the side and end walls of said body adjacent the wall having the opening therein curving toward said opening to guide coins thereto.

2. In a bank, the combination of a frangible transparent body having a coin slot therein, and an opening in the wall opposite to said coin slot, flanges formed on the body and overhanging the side edges of said open ing, a metallic closure plate fitted in said opening against said flanges, whereby coin deposited through said slot will fall upon said metal plate, ribs formed upon the ends of said body and provided with recesses, and a relatively flat handle having its ends in turned and seated in said recesses, said handle normally, extending over said coin slot.

SAMUEL B. SHEARER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. 0. 

